Closure for combined life-rafts and steamer-trunks.



M. A. GULBRAND'SEN. CLOSURE FOR COMBINED UFE RAFTS AND STEAMER TRUNKS.

APPLlCATiON FILED EUNE 26, \91]. 1 ,295,'73"Z, Patented Feb. 25, 1919. 2 SHEETSSHEET 1- INVENTOR 'MIoH I. ADOLF GULBRANDSEN,

' combination,

or NEW YORK,

0: Fro

N. Y., ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF 'ro MARTIN-J. Loin), or BROOKLYN, YoRKj CLOSURE FOR COMBINED LIFE-RAFT ,To all whom it may concern:

a combined life raft and steamer, trunk f adapted for use ordinarily as astea ner trunk and also adapted for use in an emergencyas a life raft, the object of the invention being to provide an improved device ofthis character which is simple in construction, is light and readily portable, and which while ordinarily used as a steamer trunk can in a case of emergency be readily arranged for use as a life raft. I

The invention consists in the construction, and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is an elevation of a combined steamer trunk and life raft embodying my invention, showing the collapsible floats folded. r

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with the floats inflated.

Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the trunk.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the com pressed air tank.

Fig. 7 is a detailed View, showing a portion of the trunk in elevation and showing one of the inflatable bags in section.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I provide a trunk l which comprises a top 2, a bottom, side walls 3 and end walls 4. The top is'provided with an oblong rectangular as of rubber or other suitable material and s AND S'IIEAIMER-TRUNKS.

which engage in correspondingly shaped grooves 10 in the lower side of the closure and hence. serve to hermetically seal the closure and thereby prevent the trunk water tight.v ledge-shaped blocks 11 are secured in the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 25, 1919. 7 Application filed June 26, 1917. Serial no. 177,111. I i I I leakage and render j angles; between the strips 6 and the walls ofthe trunk. Bolts 12 pass through thestrips, blocks and side iwalls and are provided. at theirouter ends with eyes ,12 through which straps '13.pass,"the straps being adapted to be fastened around the trunk and to extend across thejbottom and top thereof.

Adjacent to its freesi'de and its ends the closure is provided with cylindrical-thimbles 14;.vhich in the thimbles and each provided with a pivotally connected thumb hold 22 to enable the screws to be manually turned. These screws may be engaged .with the nuts to firmly secure the closure in closed position and hermetically seal the same.

The trunk is provided near one end with a suitable'number of compartments 23 for the reception of food, water and other supplies and one of which compartments also contains an air pump 24. Each compartment is provided in the topwith a hermetically sealed screw'cap 25 which may be manually turned and hence opened or closed. The air pump is provided with a suitable hose. 6

The compartments 23 are arranged in a tank 23 in which compressed air is stored, and which can be readily supplied with compressed air-by means of the air pump or any other suitable means. The said compressed air tank has a nipple 23 to which the hose may be directly connected.

On opposite sides of the trunk are inflatable bags 26 which are made of suitable material and which when inflated with air form floats to add to the'buoyancy of the are counter-sunk therein and have outwardly extend ng flanges 15 attheir upv r-board to be empl yed trunk and to enable the trunk when thrown as a life raft. These floats or air bags are laced or otherwise suitably secured as at 27 to the straps 13 at points near the top and bottom of the trunk and when deflated and folded are se- 7 cured in folded position, against the sides of the trunk by suitable straps 28.

The closure 4; is shown provided in the upper side with a recess 29 forthe reception of a? suitable air or other suitable kind of cushion 30.

I 23, by means of the ho se if desired.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my-invention, I would have it understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion and construction of the several parts without departing Y from the spirit of my invention and? within the scope of the appended claim.

I would have it understood, however, that Copies of this patent may be obtained. for

7 cd to register with my novel closure is especially adapted for use in th y trunk shown and described becausecof its capacity 01 excluding water.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 7 I

In a closure, the combination of a trunk inclined strips body open at its upper side,

fixed to the inner sides of the upright walls of the bodyand projecting above the plane of the upper edges of said walls, blocks interposed between'said strips and the body walls, nuts fixed in the said blocks, a cover hinged to the body and having grooves in its underside arranged to receive and break joints with the upper edges of said strips, packing interposed betweenthe upper edges of the strips and the walls of the grooves, thimbles counter-sunk in the upperside 0 the cover, the bottom walls of the thimbles and adapt and enter and engage the nuts in the interposed-blocks of the-body; the said screws having handles disposed in the thiinbles. 4 r 7 In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MICHAEL ADOLF GULBRANDSEN. V

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

f and threaded screws journaled in Y 

